Yahoo News BBC deletes Will Ferrell story after being fooled by fake twitter account
The Hollywood actor did attend the QPR vs Sunderland football match but is not on social media.
The BBC have removed a story about Will Ferrell from its news website after being taken in my a fake Twitter account.
The news service ran a report on the Hollywood actor apologising to Sunderland football fans after Queens Park Rangers lost 3-0 at Loftus Road, London.
QPR fan Ferrell, who was in the crowd to watch the match, had said: "Sunderland – oh, the tears of sorrow you’re going to experience tonight dripping down your face into your mouth drowning you in sorrow, I can only imagine."
The BBC then ran a story with the headline “QPR fan and actor Will Ferrell apologises for mocking Sunderland fans."
Watch: Will Ferrell taunted Sunderland fans ahead of the match
It quoted a tweet from the account @OfficialWilllF which read: "Haway man, sorry @SunderlandAFC", alongside a screenshot of his "tears of sorrow" comment.
Read more: Ryan Reynolds vows to bring Will Ferrell to a Wrexham home match
The BBC said: “In a BBC News Online article, we incorrectly stated QPR fan and actor Will Ferrell apologised for mocking Sunderland fans. A quote was taken from a verified Twitter account, but it was not made by the actor. We have removed the article in its entirety since it was based wholly on the apology.”
While the account has been verified by Twitter with a blue tick the BBC failed to recognise it is a parody account.
The Twitter profile has a picture of Ferrell and says it belongs to "Will Ferrell, Comedian, actor, impressionist (parody)."
Since Elon Musk took over the social media platform in 2022 he introduced premium service Twitter Blue, whereby users can purchase a blue tick verification for a monthly or annual subscription.
Read more: Quiz! Match the celebrity to the football team they support
The blue tick was previously issued to users on application as proof of an 'official' account, or dependant on the number of followers.
Elf star Ferrell is big soccer fan and partly owns LAFC in Los Angeles.
He has been on a football tour of the UK, attending matches around the country, including Wrexham against Wealdstone, Manchester City's game with Aston Villa and Liverpool Vs Everton.
Read more: The Kinks ask Elon Musk to help end Twitter warnings on their tweets
He regularly takes part in charity football competition Soccer Aid.
Watch: Will Ferrell teases Gary Neville at football match
